Chemists employ many types of redox titrations, the common element being a combination of oxidation (electron loss) and reduction (electron gain) reactions. The chemistry can be quite challenging, but the concepts are rather simple.
Reduction
Reduction refers to the chemical process of gaining electrons. For example, silver ions can undergo reduction to silver metal (metals always have a charge of zero):
Ag⁺(aq) + e⁻ ' Ag(s).
Note that the silver(I) ion gains an electron, but its charge is decreased (from +1 to 0), thus the term "reduction."
Oxidation
Oxidation is the opposite process from reduction. It refers to the chemical process of gaining electrons. A typical example is the conversion of iron metal to iron(III) ions:
Fe(s) ' Fe³⁺ + 3e⁻.
Redox
The rusting of iron is a redox process.
"Redox" is the shortened form of "reduction-oxidation reaction." This is the generic term used in describing the processes previously discussed. Oxidation and reduction always occur as a pair: Nothing can be oxidized unless something else is reduced, and vice versa.
Titrations
Redox titrations are frequently used to determine the amount of a given substance in a compound or mixture. An example is the determination of the amount of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in an over-the-counter peroxide solution. In this case, a strong oxidizer is needed, such as potassium permanganate (KMnO₄):
5 H₂O₂(aq) + 6 HCl(aq) + 2 KMnO₄(aq) ' 5 O₂(g) + 2 MnCl₂(aq) + 8 H₂O(l).
If the concentration of the permanganate solution is known, the chemist can calculate the amount of H₂O₂ in the original sample.
Applications
In addition to the analysis of hydrogen peroxide, other common redox titrations performed in chemistry teaching labs include analysis of household bleach by titration with sodium thiosulfate, analysis of iron in iron ore by titration with potassium permanganate and analysis of vitamin C in orange juice by titration with iodine.
Tags: titration with, chemical process, chemical process gaining, gaining electrons, hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate